The cells, why?

2000/11/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Bioteknologia

In Roche Molecular Biochemicals of Penzberg, Germany, they have found a way to produce proteins without using cells.

So far, anyone seeking protein for analysis and research should have introduced the gene into the Escherichia coli bacteria and wait for the bacteria to make the protein. This could be resignable, since the enzymes of E. coli could damage the same protein.

However, with the system invented by Roch, only basic ingredients are needed to make proteins. The first step is done by the RNA polymerase extracted from a virus, which consists of transforming DNA into RNA, and the stratum of E. coli will be the "machine" of making proteins based on RNA.

All the invention is just a small container. RNA and proteins are produced at the top of the cylinder and at the bottom largest are food, amino acids (see figure). These last ones grow as we get together.

The total reaction takes 24 hours, while living cells needed days.